Super Bowl Prop Bets

I know – I’m taking a huge risk here; I should be calling it THE BIG GAME. However since this just a simple post and not a store ad for big screen TV deals, I think I am safe…for now.

Anyway, what’s the best part of the game? The food, the camaraderie, the rare time when the team you are a lifelong fan of made it this far? For me, it used to be the food, but now that the game starts at 8pm, I’m having a cup of tea and cookies at that point, and dinner was whatever we were making (I am planning burgers. And tots!)

Now it’s about the prop bets. The half serious but mostly silly bets. Yeah I am the guy with the stopwatch carefully listening to how long the singer says “and the hoooommmee of theeeeee braaaaaaaavve!”

I’ve culled these bets from various sources, and since I have been doing this for many years, some historically fun favorites. And yes, there are TS references this year.

So feel free to cut and paste the actual bets starting below, ignoring my rambling here, make copies for you and the group, and pick an overall prize for the winner (whatever wings, dip, and/or beer that are left over?).

Prop bets

Coin Toss                    HEAD    / TAILS

The team that wins the coin toss will              KICK      /      RECEIVE

Length of the National Anthem (Reba McIntyre)    84.5 seconds  OVER / UNDER

Quarterback to be shown first during national anthem            MAHOMES   /  PURDY     / TAYLOR SWIFT

Who will have more passing yards   MAHOMES  /  PURDY

Who will throw more interceptions  MAHOMES / PURDY / EQUAL

Chiefs are 2.5 pt favorites over the 49ers – will they cover? YES / NO

Total points scores  47.5 points   OVER           /    UNDER

First Score of the Game will be by the             CHIEFS  /  49ers

And will be a  – TOUCHDOWN            FIELD GOAL

LAST Score of the Game will be by the            CHIEFS  /  49ers

And will be a  – TOUCHDOWN            FIELD GOAL

First Beer commercial:           Budweiser   / Bud Light  / Coors / Other beer

First Snack food commercial:  Doritos / Snickers / Cheetos / Avocados from Mexico

Which will be in a commercial first: A baby/ a dog / a horse / other __________

Which commercial first: VRBO / Uber Eats  / Neither will air

Number of times TS is shown on screen     5.5 times OVER / UNDER

Who will show up with Usher on stage: Alicia Keys   /   Ludacris  / Taylor Swift  / Other____________

Color Gatorade that is spilled on the winning coach – Yellow/ Green/ Red/ Water

Who will the SB MVP thank first: Team / Coach / Fans / God / Taylor Swift

Tee or not to Tee?

This is inspired by Ms. JannaT – not by the T in her name (that is a mystery that may never be solved), but by the tee on her son. Tee-gate if you will (you probably won’t).

I’m betting that everyone has a favorite shirt, sweater, jacket, hat…well some article of clothing or accessory much like that. You still have it and as you sort through your clothes each season, the notion that it share the same fate as your old socks and undershirts, as a rag for polishing metal or scrubbing cabinets, is inconceivable (yes I know what that word means). Are those clothes replacing that security blanket from years ago? Are they part of a timeless fashion like blue jeans and ornate codpieces?

In any matter, whatever item you do have, I would also bet that it fits you like a glove (unless it is a pair of gloves, or one glove covered in rhinestones if you grew up in the mid 80’s), in which case it just fits.

So in my defense of this hoarding sentimentality, I present my Yankees t-shirt…

…and the story behind it.

My father and I went to Yankee Stadium in 1990. It was one of my first times there, and one of many that we would go to in the next few years – the Yanks were in almost last place [still better than the BoSux!], tickets were dirt cheap and always available.

I wanted a Yankees shirt, but not just any one off a shelf at Modell’s. Hell no! ‘Authentic’ meant buying it at the Stadium. Oh, and it had to be a jersey with the player name and number. Which is strange because the Yankees never post names on their home or away jerseys.

“So which one do you want?”, my dad asked.

Without missing a beat, “Mattingly.” Duh. Don Mattingly was the sole star in a ragtag team of bad trades (Matt Nokes) and unknowns (Chuck Cary). Again, a bad team, but not as bad at the BoSux. I never called him “Donnie Baseball” – that’s just a terrible nickname.

As the season, the games and the years went on, I would wear it whenever I could, sometimes even the moment it came out of the wash, and took care of it – never had that case where they were on a winning streak and I thought it was due to my shirt, so I wouldn’t wash it for weeks (though I do that with my Jets/Titans sweater now) I was extra careful eating, drinking, handling sharp objects (especially cat claws). I don’t know what my lifetime record of wins/losses was when attending games, but considering I was a teenager and you know how they typically feel about hanging out with their parents, those were good times spent together.

Once I realized that the shirt was almost threadbare, I decided it was time to ‘hang it up’ (something that many athletes could take note of). Always safely tucked away in a drawer, the shirt only gets worn during World Series games in which the Yankees are playing, and in the case of a World Series parade, as the first layer of fan gear when I attend. Oh, and hand wash only.

And so there it is, over 24 years old. Here’s to 24 more better seasons than the goddamn Red Sux.

I’ll add that I have a Yankees jacket, sweater, and hat which have seen just as many years on them as well. I’ll save those stories for another time ;).

In the meantime, I want to hear your story of a favorite/memorable clothing item.

Ketchup with Us #6: Darn Those Sox!

Ms Mel and ODNT want to know what you could do without/not thankful for. Basically, something that is the opposite of how you feel about them.

For me the choice comes quick and natural. As a Yankees fan there is something I could live without. The Boston Red Sux.

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Ok, we sorta need them for the most intense, obnoxious rivalry in sports. I don’t need the 2004 playoffs. Up 3-0, the Yanks lost four straight games; the Sux later won the World Series. Red Sux ‘bridesmaiding’ was something I had hoped to hand down to my children. Now I’ll HAVE to share my Star Wars collection.

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